African Festival Of The Arts live!

Hugh Masekela, Poncho Sanchez, Goapale
Washington Park, Chicago
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007

Hugh Masakela

After 18 years, the African Festival Of The Arts appears to be shifting the focus from international African and Diasporan acts, to American oldies groups such as Cameo and the Mary Jane Girls. However, powerhouse performers such as Hugh Masekela and Poncho Sanchez more than make up for the change with rousing shows that permeate the entire four-day festival with joyous African spirit.

Masekela, a 68-year-old, flugelhorn-playing legend, brought a cyclone of energy and history to his performance on Sunday evening. Draped in white, he was greeted with a screaming ovation when he strolled out after his four-piece band. Launching into a riveting version of “Ha Le Se,” the musician’s comedic side came out and continued to entertain throughout the hour-long performance. “Wait a minute, this is not a Finland holiday,” he said in reference to the crowd’s response to his greeting. “This is not an Iceland holiday. This is an African heritage thing so you’re not allowed to be quiet. We’re going to try it once again: Hello, Chicago!” When the audience yelled back, he replied, “Goddammit, I knew you could do it! Trying to be cool, give me a break!”

His classic “Stimela,” complete with Masekela’s convincing sound effects to mimic the train that would take southern African workers to toil in South Africa’s gold mines, was dedicated to the people of Darfur. “We’re dedicating this to the people of Darfur because for the last 30 years, people have forgotten human feeling,” he said to applause. “It’s time to let our voices to be heard again, they are human just like us.” A percolating “Happy Mama,” brimming with Soweto jazz, followed but it wasn’t until he turned his back to play cow bells that the crowd screeched with excitement. Recognition of “Grazing In The Grass” sent the mostly middle-age audience into a dancing frenzy, and he drew the tune out for 10 minutes. He dedicated his take on the Afrobeat classic “Lady” to Fela and played with a tad more jazz than funk. He ended by asking, “Have you had enough? Come on, we gotta go home now, Africa is a long way! The crowd yelled no, and he treated them to an extended version of his historic “Mandela (Bring Him Back Home).”

Poncho Sanchez turned his show into a dance party, starting with a rollicking tribute to Tito Puente. He played “Oye Como Va” with enough flavor to inspire non-stop salsa dancing. The congero upped the ante with a dedication to Mongo Santamaria, “Afro Blue.” In his trademark white newsboy hat and white shirt, Sanchez pounded away for a good eight minutes, inspiring the crowd to kick up clouds of dust as they danced. The title cut from his current CD, Raise Your Hand, is a Booker T & The MG’s classic, which prompted Sanchez to sizzle and belt with fervor. Ending with a hot salsa number, “El Agua de Belem,” he left the crowd with sore feet and happy faces.

South African and Jewish singer Goapale enjoys a loyal neo-soul fanbase and they came out to support her for Friday night’s show. They rushed to the front of the stage when she appeared in a floral dress, jean jacket, and head wrap. “Romantic” showcased her throaty voice and requisite neo-soul vocal dips. She then tackled “4am,” a midtempo burner from her new sophomore CD, Change It All. “Crushed Out” offered a soaring groove that drove the crowd to sway to the rhythm. It was a groove that abruptly ended when Goapele announced there were “issues backstage, I was back there waiting and now they’re telling me I have only one song.” She played her dreamy hit, “Closer,” filling the park with melody. Insult was added to injury when she left the stage and the MC mangled the pronunciation of her name, much to her fans’ irritation.

— Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly